Toulon formalized this Monday the signatures of seven recruits, including that of the best player of the Top 14 in 2022, the English Zach Mercer. The great hope Patrick Tuifua also arrives while Ma’a Nonu has extended his contract at 43 years old.
“We strive to build a balanced team to try to respond to the club’s ambitions. These arrivals and overtime are part of the club policy and in our sports succession plan. »» Laurent Emmanueli, sports director of Toulon, commented in these terms, in a club statement, the official announcement of seven recruits for the next financial year. Without a doubt, the most flashy signature of this cast comes from across the Channel.
Zach Mercer, Gloucester player, will therefore find the top 14 at 28 years old. Champion of France with Montpellier in 2022 and elected best player in the championship that same year, the English international will strengthen a 3rd line already composed among others of Charles Ollivon and another elder from the XV of the Rose, Lewis Ludlam.
The nugget tuifua and the legend All Black Nonu gathered
At this same position, the XV of the harbor struck another big blow with the arrival of Patrick Tuifua, considered at 20 years old as a future world of world class. This tricolor international of under twenty years old arrives from the Hawke’s Bay Magpies in New Zealand. In a very different style, the RCT also attached the services of Ignacio Brex, three-quarter Italian international center and former “Septiste”. After eight seasons at Treviso, he will discover the top 14 at 33 years old. Former seven rugby player too, Matéo Garcia will also be red and black, he who played a lining role at the UBB, in the shadow of Matthieu Jalibert. The former scrum half of Racing 92, Clovis the lease, will try to give a second breath to his career in the Var.
Brive’s back or winger, Mathis Ferté, wishes to take off his career at the highest level on the side of Mayol where he will team up with the seventh recruit, the Georgian pillar Nikoloz Narmania, from Biarritz. In the extensions department,
Toulon lengthened the contracts of two veterans in the center: the legend All Black Ma’a Nonu (43) and Jérémy Sinzelle (35 years old). Ditto for Mickaël Ivaldi, 35, whose heeling experience appeals to Pierre Mignoni.
